Spring-shank-hammer mechanism



April 27 1926.

H. A. BALLARD SPRING SHANK HAMMER MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1922 PatentedApr. 27, 1926.

BARBIE A. BALLARD, OF BOSTGN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEONGHARPCOMPANY, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SPRING-SHANKJ-IAMBIEB Application file July 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat IyHARPLIE A. BALL'ARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Shank- HammerMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing mecha nism for musical instruments andhas more particular relation to a hammer action by which the variousstrings or other sounding elements may be sounded.

According to'this invention each hammer mechanism comprises an axiallyslid'able plunger constructed to engage a spring hammer consistingof aleaf spring carrying at its free end a string-striking element or headlocated at a substantial distance from the plunger engagement therewith.A cushion isprovided to limit without noise the mo tion of the plungerin either direction. The fixed end of the spring is made fast in suchposition that it urges the plunger into inoperative position whenpressure onthe plunger is released.

The spring shank of the hammer and the plunger are so engaged as toprevent lat eral movement of one relative to the other and sothat theplunger, when in an operated position, limits-the movement of thatportion of the spring shank which is engaged by it defining a node ofvibration for the spring shank of the han'nner, the hammer being freeto'vibrate against the string.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, together withfurther objects, advantageous details and combinatlons of parts,reference may be had tothe-accompanying drawing showing the lnyention asapplied to an instrument of the zither type. In these drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary plan of the instrument showing the inventionapplied thereto, portions being. broken away.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sec tion online 3-3 of Figure 2showing a single hammer action in elevation.

igure 4 is a perspective of an actuating plunger. p

Eeferr to the drawings, 1, in Figure 3, indicates a portion of theinstrumen frame MECHANISM.

strip 7 is provided witlrperforations as 8 for the slida'ble receptionof hammcr-aetuat ing plungers 9, one plunger being provided for eachstring or set of strings intended. to be sounded in unison.

As shown in this embodiment the strings designed to: be actuated bythemechanism are arranged in pairs and are intended to be strucksimultaneously. A single string; or more than two might be employed,however,

according to the particular construction.

of the-instrument to which the mechanism is to be applied. Between theend frames l and beneath the keyboard 7 is fixed: a support or bar 10which is shown as angular in cross section to provide. an upwardlyextending ledge 11 along the edge remote from the frame 1. Made fast tothe top of this ledge 11 is a guide strip or plate 12 which has a seriesof perforations 13, herein shown as of angular cross section, toslidably receive the lower ends of the-plungers 9. Beneath the plat-e12a: strip of felt 28is shown as applied to the upper face of the support10 adjacent the ledge 11. This felt strip is for the purpose ofreceiving the end of each plunger 9 when it is depressed into string--striking position so as to limit its downward stroke in a noiselessmanner. As shown each plunger is formed of sheet material, thelowerportion 14- being formed. an gul-ar, while the upper por ionmay, ifdesired, be formed cylindrical as at 15 to: pass through cylindricalopenings in the key board, and an actuating button 16 may be formed ormade fast to the upper end of each plunger. One side or leg of the angleportion 1 2, as 17, is slotted at 18 for the reception of thespring'shank 19 of the hammer which is retained in position within theslot by means of hook 20 extending from the other e substantiallyparallel. tethe i leg 1 and ever the the spring shank 19. Above the leg17 and hook 520 may be positioned a washer 21 of yieldable material suchfelt to limit the up ward motion of the plunger by impingement on thekeyboard 7. The spring shank 19 is bowed outwardly and then downwardlyas shown at 25 and passes between the outer face of the support 10 and aclamping strip 26 fixed thereto in position to retain the varioushammers in correct relative positions and in correct relation to thestrings of the instrument. The spring shank iasses beneath the hook 20and through the slot 18 at a point intermediate its ends, and theforward end of the shank carries at a sub stantial distance from itsengagen'ient by theplunger a string-striking head 30. By depression ofthe plunger until it engages the cushion 23, the spring hammer 19 is soflexed so as to bring the head by its mementum down against the string,the resilience of the shank permitting the head to vibrate against thestrings for a considerable time after depression of the plunger. Thenode of vibration of the free end of the hammer is at the slot 18 in theplunger, this slot being but slightly wider than the shank is thick.lVhen the plunger is released the spring shank 19 raises it until thewasher 21 engages the strip 7, and in order to'prevent vibration of thehammer head when 1n inoperative position, it is cushioned and stopped bya pad 27 fixed to the lower face of a rebound board 28 which issupported by resilient ar is 29 from the lower face of the keyboard 7 orthe plate 5, if desired these arms being integral with the flange 6.

From this description it will be apparent that inasmuch as the plungerslides in spaced guides which hold it against lateral movement and theend of each spring hammer is fixed, any lateral movement of the hammerheads is prevented by the engagement of the hook 20, and the end wall ofthe slot 18 with the side edges of the hammer shank 19.

hile this invention has been shown as applied to a stringed instrumentit is evi dent that it could also be applied to other instruments inwhich the notes may be sounded by a hammer action, such, for example asa Xylophone. The term string as used in this application, therefore, isintended to indicate broadly one or more strings or sounding elementswhich are designed to be struck in unison to produce the desired note.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should beevident that many changes and modifications might be made thereinwithout departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger, a spring hammerengaged at opposite sides intermediate its ends by said plunger, andmeans for fixing one end of the spring shank of said hammer leaving thehead end 'of said hammer free.

2. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having atransverse opening therethrough, a spring hammer having its spring shankpassed through said opening, and means for fixing one end of said shankleaving the head end of said hammer free.

3. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a sheetmetal shank portion provided with a slot, a spring hammer having a leafspring shank portion passed through said slot between its ends, thesides of said slot closely engaging said spring shank, and means forfixing one end of spring shank leaving the head end of spring hammerfree.

4:. in a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a sheetmetal shank portion provided with a slot, a spring hammer having a leafspring shank portion passed through said slot between its ends, thesides of the said slot closely engaging said spring shank means forfixing one end of said spring shank leaving the head end of said springhammer free and means for retaining said spring shank within said slot.

5. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a sheetmetal shank por tion provided with a slot, a spring hammer having a leafspring shank portion passed through said slot between its ends, thesides of said slot closely engaging said spring shank, means for fixingone end of said spring shank leaving the head end of said spring hammerfree, and means for retaining said spring shank against lateral motionin said slot.

6. A device of the class described comprising a support having a guideopening, a plunger axially sliclable through said opening, a pad againstwhich. the end of said plunger may impinge and furnish a noiseless stoptherefor, a leaf spring made fast at one end to said support and engagedbetween its ends by an intermediate portion of said plunger, and astriking element carried by the other free end of said spring.

7. In combination, in a stringed musical instrument, a bar angular incross section constructed to be made fast transverse to the strings ofthe instrument, a strip of cushioning material carried by one arm ofsaid bar, a strip carried by the other arm of said bar and spaced fromsaid cushioning strip and having guide openings therethrough spaced tocorrespond with said strings, a plunger axially slidable through eachguide opening into and out of contact with said cushioning strip, springelement for each plunger fixed at one end to said bar, engaged by itsplunger intermediate its ends and having its free end extending over thecorresponding string of said instrument, and a head eleea, cl

said

coir

ment carried by each free end in position to strike the strings when itsplunger is depressed into contact with said cushioning strips.

8. In a device of the class described, a hammer actuating plunger havinga slotted portion through which a hammer-carrying element may pass, andmeans for retaining said element within said slot.

9. In a device of the class described, a hammeuactuating plunger havinga portion of angular cross section, one of the legs of the angle havinga slot for the reception of a hannner-carrying element, and a hookextending from the other leg in position to re tain the element in saidslot.

10. In a musical instrument, a plunger having a portion of angular crosssection, one of the legs of the angle having a slot therethrough, aspring hammer having its spring shank extended through said slot andclosely engaged by the walls thereof, and an element projecting from theother leg of the angle for retaining said spring shank against lateralmovement within said slot.

11. In a musical instrument, a spring hammer having a spring shankportion, a plunger engaging said shank at a point intermediate the endsthereof and defining a node of vibration of said shank, and means forfixing one end of said shank leaving the head end free.

12. The combination with a spring hammer of an actuating plungertherefor hav ing a slot formed to closely receive the shank of saidhammer and defining the node of vibration thereof, and means forretaining said shank in said slot.

13. The combination with a spring hammer, of an actuating plungertherefor having a slot formed to closely receive the shank of saidhammer, and defining the node of vibration thereof, means for retainingsaid shank in said slot, and means for preventing lateral movement ofsaid spring shank within said slot.

14. In a musical instrument, a series of spring hammers, and commonmeans for detachably clamping one end of each of said hammers in fixedposition.

15. In a musical instrument, a support, a series of spring hammers, anda strip attachable to said support in position to clamp one end of eachof said hammers thereagainst leaving the head ends of said hammers free.

16. In a stringed musical instrument, a support extending laterally ofthe springs at one end, a series of spring hammers having resilientshanks positioned against said support, and abar extended along saidsupport for clamping the hammers in position.

17. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members,aplurality of plungers guided for axial movement by said members, andhammers actuated by movement of said plungers for striking the stringsof the instrument.

18. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members,plungers guided by said members and spring hammers engaged by saidplungers between said members and actuated to strike the strings of saidinstrument on movement of said plungers.

19. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members, aplurality of plungers guided for axial movement by said members, hammersactuated by movement of said plungers for striking the strings of theinstrument, and a stop for limiting the motion of said plungers tostriking position.

20. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members,plungers guided by said members, and spring hammers engaged by said plungers between said members and actuated to strike the strings of saidinstrument on movement of said plungers, and a stop for limiting themotion of said plungers to striking position.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HARRIE A. BALLARD.

